Minutes 01-30-2018 AOG - Laserfiche WebLink

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12 Ashley Heger said as a County employee one cannot advocate against County policy, but the Council itself would remain a separate entity. Travis Myren said to the extent that the County ethics policy would be involved, a County employee would have to abide by the rules. He said there would need to be care taken with coordinator lobbying other local governments on behalf of the Council. Alderman Chaney said two municipalities may have competing goals, or differences, and she wondered how a County employee would navigate this. Travis Myren said the Coordinator could be a mediator, but not an advocate for either. He said the Coordinator would not be able to advocate for something not previously endorsed by the BOCC. Mayor Lavelle asked if the Food Council endorsed something, would the BOCC then have to ratify it. Travis Myren said it would be with more adversarial issues. Commissioner McKee expressed praise for the Council. He said his concern is that this proposal is at 30,000 feet, and his concern is at 3 feet: getting food to people who need it, with the least amount of bureaucracy. He said he is disappointed to see no outreach to farmers, or service providers who are already working in this arena. He said there are concerns from other organizations about the Food Council, and how it will impact their work. Ashley Heger said the Council is still defining what a partner is, and that is why this is not included as part of the package. She said there are broader goals, and there are practitioners and direct service providers already in place. Commissioner McKee said he would like to know how the Council’s efforts have increased provision of service to the residents. Alderman Seils said this is a systemic approach to a systemic problem. He said the Council can still serve as an advocate, while the coordinator could not if it was a County employee. He said the way the Partnership to End Homelessness is structured and funded is via a memorandum of understanding (MOU). He would expect this proposed model to come with strings attached if this became a County function. Commissioner Price expressed appreciation for the Council. She asked if the Council is working with existing service providers, and if there are any organizations to which the Council should reach out, such as churches. Ashley Heger said this is in the beginning stages, and she is now starting to meet with entities to map what already exists, and the best way to build upon that. She said there are challenges due to limited staff and time. Ashley Heger said she has learned that there is no central database for all food access resources, and the Council is currently compiling such a database. She said this should be completed in the early summer, and will be sent out to all direct service providers. Commissioner Weaver said the Food Council is not a direct food service provider, but it is a convening group trying to bridge the farmer to those providing the food. She said the Farm Food Economy Work Group is trying to compile a list of farmers that can be available to the public, and restaurants. Commissioner Weaver said the funding model needs to be thought through, but from the Food Council perspective it is important to look at things from a systems level, and to have investment from all of the elected bodies. She said elected officials may have different things to think through, and she encouraged staff to think creatively and for all elected bodies to invite the current Food Council Coordinator to a regular meeting. Commissioner Rich said the job of elected officials is to help the Food Council with connections to resources, and she encouraged the Council to have a way for elected officials to get information to the Food Council.